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I am disgusted at the fetishization of Eurasians in Korean MMOs.
AmandaVarone
Member Posts: 4
I am a female gamer, I've tried many games over the years, including MMOs such as Final Fantasy(as well as the console games), and Lineage 2 and other such games. I currently play LOTRO. LOTRO is probably one of the few MMOs out now that I feel doesn't follow this sickening trend of fetishizing Eurasians, particularly females. I have seen this trend largely in Korean made MMOs, and frankly I find it apalling. As a woman of german and japanese descent, I have had to deal with many guys who eyed me as nothing more than some weird "exotic girl" fetish. I've had boyfriends who would date me, and not tell their friends my race, in some weird attempt to make me seem more "exotic" and desirable.
I find nothing wrong with having attractive characters in MMOs. But why is it the art direction for much of these games revolves around having sexualized Eurasian looking characters, females especially? Aion is a good example, as is Lineage 2. The women tend to have a certain look regardless of their race, of that of a Eurasian female. This is noticable even in the elves, which aren't even supposed to be human! I've noticed this happens much more with elven type races in these games, as if by making them look mixed, it will make them seem like something not "human" and exotic. Take a good look at the elves, both light and dark in Lineage 2, and see if you notice it. I've noticed this a lot in Aion as well. While I do commend NcSoft for making it so you can create a character to look however you want, the art direction(ie the wallpapers for instance), the characters have a very obvious Eurasian look. This would not bother me so much, but for the fact in Asian countries, us Eurasians tend to be exoticized, and raised up to some odd standard of beauty. I've been to Japan and South Korea and seen this for myself, where many celebrities will be mix raced, and touted as "exotic beauties". It's even in their games. I once enjoyed Final Fantasy games before they later went along with this trend in their 3d games. Just look at the characters in the latest FF games, and even that Advent Children movie, the females and males generally look very Eurasian and "exotic".
This disturbs me, because one, I do not like being fetishized and seeing charcaters that look like me being thrown into everything and touted as "exotic beauties". I am a woman, a person, a human being, not some sexualized fantasy of some exotic "elf" or whatever it is these developers seem to think we look like. Second, it's disturbing because I'd figure Asians would be proud of their culture and their appearance, enough so to feature characters that look like that, purely Asian, and not mixed race Eurasians. This sets a bad trend, because this encourages the idea that us mixed race European/Asians are somehow some exotic fantasy race for men(and women) to ogle. Even World of Warcraft has done this with the Blood Elves, they originally looked like classical elves in the old artwork and WC3, I tried WoW post BC and see these real skinny females with Eurasian facial features, as though Blizzard thought it would make them look more "exotic and ssexy". And what do you know, they're the most popular race, touted as being sexy, and tons of guys make them for the sole purpose of jerking off to some fantasy of some exotic mixed asian girl with a few euro features. I've even seen pigs on the WoW forums saying how Blood Elves were so exotic and pretty because, and I quote "They're real small and thin like asian girls so you can spin em, but actually don't all look the same like asians ". That is downright offensive as hell.
Has anyone else noticed this trend and found it offensive, particularly those of you of Eurasian or Asian descent? Is it really necessary to make an MMO and have the art littered with Eurasian women bent over in short skirts with big tits looking like a pinup? How come I don't see art of LOTRO or AOC or even Darkfall(as much as that game is awful I admit) with the women all looking like exotic half asian sex objects?
Look at these very beautiful Asian girls:
They're very pretty and look very distinctly full Asian. Why then is it in these Asian made MMOs and their artwork, the vast majority of the characters look like this(the first picture is a real photo edit representing the exact kind of "perfect" and "exotic" Eurasian look they go for in their art, compared to the actual Asian girls above):
Notice they all have a mix of Asian and European features, to create some sort of "exotic" and "perfect" look, like some sort of doll almost. What's most upsetting is in Asian countries there are studies claiming Eurasians to be the most attractive, moreso than both Asians and Europeans. There's people who actually hold this belief, and what's worse, is this has permeated not only TV but even videogames in these countries. In the Philipines just about every celebrity is Eurasian, as they are considered 'the most beautiful". This trend is very unnerving, and what's worse, this crap has spread to America too. With guys gawking at Ff chars and chars like the ones in Aion and Lineage 2 and the countless F2P games, and acting as though Asian women must be mixed with European to be beautiful. You wouldn't believe the offensive nonsense that comes from the mouths of male gamers, especially on places like mmosite.com, where the guys gawk at these females, and criticize harshly the female cosplayers, with the ones that look the most Asian being criticized harshly, and the ones that look Eurasian being looked at much more favorably. I'm sick of this fetishization, I'm sick of men treating us Eurasian girls like some exotic, perfect sex objects they seen in some dumb game, I'm sick of Asians themselves exporting this trend to other countries, and I'm sick of guys saying nonsense like "Wow, you look like an elf or something" and knowing full well the asshole is gonna be wanking later picturing me or some other female like me as some fantasy nonhuman character from a damn game. It's sickening, it's gross, and it needs to STOP.
Someone stop this crazy thing!
Comments
Didnt we already have this conversation with someone today??
"World of Warcraft is the perfect implementation of this genre." - Hilmar Petursson. CEO of CCP.
Not to offset your wall of text, but, I do agree. But I can say this right now, you live in a world that over-sexualizes females because it has a monetary correspondence to males. Have you never noticed that greed trumps all?
My blog is a continuing story of what MMO's should be like.
True, but I even see females doing this, both Asian and white. Gawking at characters like Sephiroth or some other guy who looks like some idealized mixed race "doll" character, and then they see real Eurasians and fetishize them, while acting like Asian men or White men are somehow "inferior" or just not as good.
Someone stop this crazy thing!
Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia.
When I play these games, I never really think to myself, "man, it's a good thing these characters are asian or Eurasian, or whatever the crap they may or may not be. So goddamn hot, it's totally what gets me off."
I just like TnA.
Anyway, this is how anime is, and apparently how those who draw it like it done. It's a totally perfect mixed race, and I for one bow to our new Eurasian overlords.
studys show that young teen boys like making half naked girl characters with massive Cup sizes which we will rename to "mug" size and the cover art of half naked girls of any race seems to cause people to at least look at the title of the game.
/sarcasm...i think.
There are many things wrong with the world and their treatment of those different to themselves, whether it's adoration, cruelty, fetishization of a particular culture or 'race', or the blatant discrimination of another.
It's the 'trend' at the moment, and as long there is a demand for it (monetary value), it will be predominantly displayed. Sad, but such is the world as it is.
All we can do is co-exist and try to understand the source. Failing that, we imprison ourselves in a vicious cycle of hate and condemnation that only begets that which hate in others.
And yesterday there was a post where someone complained that these games' elves looked too Asian.
Everyone just loves to complain.
I do not share the OP's sentiment, but yes, characters from asian games and anime are almost always a stylized form of caucasion. In reality, I think what we are seeing here is a blending of the best features of both the white and asian races.
As far as the objectifying of women go, well of course it is happening, and if that is one's beef, then games from all contries have this issue. Of course, in Asia, men are also objectified and made unnaturally pretty too, so it is not the feminist issue that some would lead you to believe.
Frankly, I would rather look at people from asian games than the misshapen homonids that fill many western games like the models from WoW and CoS, for example... so ugly and deformed.
To each their own, I guess.
Wow, I will never get those 3 minutes of my life back.
I hate you and your fellow Eurasians now, your quest is complete.
In my opinion your criticism has 2 major issues.
1- Hero idealization.
What you mentined happens in western games, movies and almost all "visual" productions too. Even in classic art you will find different types of human figure idealization not only related to heroes. I found it strange that only the Eurasian archetype are a real issue to your eyes.
2-Men idealization.
In eastern games men is sexualized and idealized just like women.
It is easy to find muscular bodies with little to no clothes in western and eastern games.
The idealized image of men in these games are even more idealized than women image. From muscular build to beauty faces the image of men in all game history is the image of an ultra sexual, ultra strong, masculine but with feminine smooth beauty aswell.
I am not against idealizations. From the extreme of beauty to the extreme of uglyness and inadequacy. But I am a bit tired of these repetitive western cliches.
The one related to the eurasian looks and the one related to the sexualization of women... The truth is you find all archetypes in these games but with the appeal to beauty and exoticism and every human image is sexualized NOT only women image.
This kind of western complaing that comes from men and women are much more a reflex of insecurity than anything.
From Von Stuck to Klimt you will find idealized beauty and usually much more focused on the female image while in these games you find idealized human figure.
The hero (male and female) will usually express an image of strength, confidense and strong sexual appeal just like any strong animal of its kind.
...
I call BS
This is a carbon copy of the two posts deleted yesterday about the same thing. Funny how "Amanda" has a join date of today....hmmmm
Just quit while you are behind
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
Meh, in front. Behind. If they look like that, Ill be happy at either end.
Well, for the record I agree with you, but more so in the general sense that females in general are over-sexed in MMOs. And then that is only really a problem because of the double standard when the men are fully clothed and look like crap. Though at least the male characters in the Korean games are attractive and not gorilla-like man-beasts. Eurasian or any other race, it doesn't matter, at least they don't look like cavemen. They still wear x10 more clothes then the women do, though.
That said, and I mean this sincerely, don't you think you're coming off a little arrogant in this post? It takes a staggering level of hubris to think that males are going to "wank", as you put it, after meeting you. If you'd tone down the self-references and stick to the point, I think your overall message would be made more clear and more difficult to dismiss.
And it would be a shame for someone to dismiss it because of tone, since you do indeed have a very valid point.
Just my thoughts.
It just goes to show you where the majority of these games are made.
Haha, nice try. First the whole 'elves are not asian' schtick, and now this. Member joined today, has 2 posts, and uses exactly the same grammar/sentence structure.
Obvious troll is obvious.
WarhammerPro Ver2.0
"World of Warcraft is the perfect implementation of this genre." - Hilmar Petursson. CEO of CCP.
Little Kitty thinks... you should go and play Grand Theft Auto 4... only one serbian gal at teh beggining and the rest is pure US stuff...
Pictures or shut the fuck up.Hold on now. You always introduce yourself, or others, by race? And you say your hubby wanna mke you more desireable to other men? Sounds kinky... As long as they are not prettier than you or as long as your bf dont get a hardon? Because sex is fun, everyone has it, and it sells computer games? Thats called "beauty". Its quite normal dont worry about it. Yes, elves are always considered to be more beautiful. So?Of course it does. Your a woman (yea right) and they are more pretty than you. its the most common reason for a woman to become feminist activist and hate p0rn etc. Its also very normal dont worry about it. Hold on now...?!? You look like that?!? And according to yourself, an exotic beauty. Ah, your just some fucked up rasist. That xplains it.
Well..... you are......? Yea, baaad developers. Baaaad i say! How dare they make sexy looking females! What a fucking surprise eh? Ah your a sexist too? Not only a rasist eh. ... and other sexists pisses you off? You want to lone right to call the other sex names and generalise i guess? No, go check your head. Seriously, your not feeling alright. If you dont like the game, why buy it, install it, play it.....? Omg you seriously need help? Im not joking or trolling here, seek help asap. You cant tell fantasy from reality and obviously your friends and/or boyfriend cant either. Your also a sexist and a racist and other sexists are pissing you off. Thats projection btw. Ask your psychologist about it.Wow, that THE most picked apart Op statement I've seen to date.
Lol. Seems appropriate for this thread.
...but back on topic, could it just be that a game who's characters have both western and eastern features allows people from both demographics to identify with the game better? Aion for example is an eastern MMO breaking into the western market so why would they not want elements of both in their game? Figure out where the money is and that's usually where you'll find your answer. There's money in diversity or at least that's what the marketing people decided.
I didn't make too much of a dent in the wall of text, but honestly: it's human nature. Both sexes are attracted to certain traits in the other, and both sexes often learn to maximize their own appeal in order to find a superior mate. It happens in nature, and it happens with humans.
Creating drama (especially by calling it a fetish) around it only indicates a lack of understanding. To be honest if I wanted to appeal to the majority of people around the world I'd implement characters that looked eurasian too, as that's a mix between what a majority of the world looks like (of course I'd also include Indian and African looking character models/faces.)
If you weren't focused on looks, you might have an argument. For example it irritated the crap out of me that many of the women in Star Ocean: The Last Hope are depicted in submissive roles (very traditional Japanese.) Mostly because I wanted the characters to stop whining and grow some spines.
Threads like these always make me think of how backwards society is, that it's culturally acceptable to murder people but somehow it's wrong to have sex appeal.
(This is yet another post I wish I could make without bumping the thread to the top again and giving it undeserved visibility. If only more forums let you without bumping
)
"What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver
I have wondered for some time what to call that specific look the OP is talking about.
Thanks OP for your post, now I have a name for it.
OP, you are probably not the only one angry/annoyed/irritated by it. But it's a lost battle, especially on a site like this one, I'm afraid.
But good luck to you
Anime has always had this type of style to it so it is a natural extension of said anime into the gaming genre from asian developers... Simple as that.
Before too long there won't be any non mixed people left.
Why not just count yourself lucky?
Accept your heritage?
Sorry that your so attractive that everyone emulates you, must be AWFUL.
edit: Wait, so you think that Sephiroth is a good example of a Eurasian?
I really think that you are nuts, I'm sorry to say it, Anime style is not realistic... they have gigantic eyes... I mean do you have like freakish eyes that are like half the size of your face?
Technically a Eurasian is anyone from Europe or Asia... I think you are using the term wrong too.
Eurasia is a large landmass covering about 52,990,000 km2 (20,846,000 mi2) or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface (36.2% of the land area). Often considered a single continent, Eurasia comprises the traditional continents of Europe and Asia.
I really think you are being overly sensitive and your sorta skewing facts to be more offended than is logical.
What women ARE NOT objectified? Do you think you are some how MORE objectified?
I always knew that woman wear offended by those arts and im with you. I mean, there is a new game that is out name ninja gaiden. There is 1 guy ninja, the main character and the devs added 3 other characters. Guess what. The 3 other characters are 3 girls with huge boobs that giggle and we see that rack of each of them.
Most of asian games, not only mmorpg's, their games represent woman as sexe symbole. The problem with asians devs, they make woman to make men play with them, but they really dont care about the woman gamers. Asian had always been sexist. If a girl know how to fight, she got to be a sexe symbole at the same time or they make a game where there is 0 woman as a selectable fighter.
Look at dead or alive, all woman got huge boobs that giggle. Its so unrealistic.
well, to be honnest, i dont even think that age of conan is sexist because it kind of follow what history was and i wont call history sexist too lol. There are story about slave and there was also slave woman so what do you think they do to him? Aoc are just realistic so its all good. Also, they dont have super big boobs like some other asian games.
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